Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - “Counter the digital divide and promote social inclusion for young people in Muhura” in Rwanda is a joint initiative undertaken by the Italian Movement to Fight World Hunger with the METID Centre (New Methods and Technology for Didactics) opened in 1995 at Milan University, to promote development and adoption of new methods and technology in university teaching and the Fondazione Cariplo.
The programme includes: opening of a computer laboratory CompLab; preparation of a course on computer use (text editing, spread sheet, multimedia presentations, use of the Internet and e-mail); the installation of a satellite connection to the Internet; formation course for teachers also in view of IT formation at a distance; production of a school bulletin and relative training of editing committee; provide the programme with self-supporting means.
Digital divide or the gap in access to IT technology affects every aspect of a community, economic, social and cultural. Data available today shows that this gap will increase progressively marking a line of separation north south which will be difficult to cancel.
In 1998 in highly developed countries about 41 per every 1,000 people had access to the Internet, in medium developed countries the ratio was less than 1 per 1,000. For example in 1998 the situation was as follows:
United States for every 1,000 people: 661 telephones lines, 459 personal computers and 847 television sets;
Italy for every 1,000 people 451 telephone lines, 173 personal computers and 451 television sets;
Colombia for every 1,000 people 173 telephones lines, 28 personal computers and 217 television sets;
Pakistan for every 1,000 people 19 telephone lines, 4 personal computers, 88 television sets;
Mozambique for every 1,000 people there were 4 telephone lines, 2 personal computers and 3 television sets.
The main causes are lack of infrastructures for telecommunication, high cost of use of telephone lines, lack of PCs and instruction for their use, geographical distribution of Internet connection concentrated in major cities or only capitals, and almost non existent in rural areas where most people live. (AP) (8/7/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe 35; Parole:409)
